For a brief period during the Yes for Indigenous Voice to Parliament campaign, there was a clear trend away from celebrities using their profiles to endorse the message.
The decision came after an internal poll indicated that ordinary Australians wanted to see people like them share their reasons for supporting the referendum and did not want to be lectured by millionaires and household names.
The No campaign also relied on criticism from Yes supporters, creating a strong argument that the proposition would harm ordinary Australians and that “elite” Yes voters were out of touch with the ordinary voter.
But the tide has turned again, with a wave of new celebrities who literally showed their hands to say that they would vote yes on October 14.
And the trend wasn’t better received the second time around.
Independent MPs known as the Teals were among the first to support the campaign, posing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with their hands in the air for ‘yes’.
Rising Hollywood actress Angourie Rice, known for her roles in Spider-Man and Senior Year, shared a selfie with a “Yes” badge and said she supports the Voice to encourage “listening, recognizing and a better future.
Up-and-coming Hollywood actress Angourie Rice, known for her roles in Spider-Man and Senior Year, shared a selfie with a “Yes” badge and said she supports the Voice to encourage “listening, recognizing and better future “.
He was told to “stay out of politics and not be a pawn” in response to the photo.
“You will lose support for something you know very little about,” the critic said.
Another added: “It’s a shame when celebrities (who know nothing about the real world) want to have a political agenda. I am of indigenous origin and I vote no.
Despite the criticism, she managed to convince some voters, one of whom said: “I’m voting yes because Angourie is voting yes.”
ABC’s Hard Quiz host Tom Gleeson also showed up for the Yes side this week, embarking on a new campaign that encourages voters to share photos with the word “Yes” on their hands.
He said: “I vote yes. When it comes to serious matters, Peter Dutton is only supporting the no vote to deprive the Prime Minister of a political victory. This vote should be bipartisan. Make it bipartisan by voting yes.
ABC’s Hard Quiz host Tom Gleeson also showed up for the Yes side this week, embarking on a new campaign that encourages voters to share photos with the word “Yes” on their hand.
The photo attracted 812,000 views on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, and Gleeson was bombarded with hate messages as a result.
“This message sparked a lot of abuse. This same abuse triggered the algorithm to make this message travel further. I’m devastated,” he deadpanned.
One critic said: “Another B celebrity shoves Canberra’s voice down our throats when we can’t pay the rent or electricity.”
Another added: “It’s amazing how many media figures end their careers because of this.”
Celeste Barber was forced to deactivate her Instagram comments after expressing support for the campaign, erasing both negative and positive comments from her feed.
“I will vote YES so that I can be heard in Parliament during the next referendum,” wrote the 41-year-old.
Non-binary actress Kath Ebbs also supports voting Yes and included the carousel suggested by Yes23 on an Instagram post.
The “Yes on the Hand” trend is being promoted by the Yes23 campaign, and Australians from all walks of life are encouraged to get involved.
The campaign even provided a caption that participants could copy, including hashtags to use and talking points that were repeated by supportive activists and politicians.
Supporters are invited to upload their selfie alongside a carousel of images explaining the Voice, and tag three friends in the hope that they too will participate, to spread the message far and wide.
Independent MPs known as the Teals were among the first to support the campaign, posing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with their hands in the air.
Magda Szubanski was also forced to hit back at trolls who smeared her after she showed support for the Yes campaign.
The comedian sparked backlash by directing his message to Yes voters and “reasonable undecideds,” asking them to document “disinformation, defamation and lies.”
Magda Szubanski hit back at trolls who smeared her after showing support for the Yes campaign
“Magda wants to create a list of anyone with opposing views,” one tweeted. “How very tolerant of her.”
Another said: “Magda, do yourself a favor, these aren’t lies when not all the details have been released. It’s not lies when people within the community tell us they think the “Voice” is trash.
It comes as the Yes camp recruits Olympic gold medalist Cathy Freeman for its campaign.
She said the historic referendum is a chance to “be part of a moment that brings people together”.
Celeste Barber (pictured) faced mixed reactions after throwing her support behind a yes vote in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
She also urged Australians to “stand with me” when the country goes to the polls on October 14.
Following her video, Freeman was criticized as a “betrayal”, while others claimed her success was “proof that there’s no need for a voice”.
Singers Paul Kelly and John Farnham have both backed the campaign and pledged their support.
But the sweeping campaign comes just months after the Yes camp made a concerted effort to distance itself from elite supporters.
A source within the campaign said in July that the decision to prioritize grassroots Indigenous voices was because Australians did not want media figures to “preach” to them about what they should do.